This guide to Setting up a Legal Entity in Asia is intended to assist companies looking to expand to an Asian jurisdiction, with a focus on private companies and corporate vehicles - a business form wherein the legal entity is separate and distinct from its shareholders and directors. The guide has been curated to provide a comprehensive outline of the general requirements for company formation across the following countries in Asia (based on prevailing laws as of 15 September 2024):

• Malaysia
• India
• Indonesia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• South Korea
• Vietnam

As the world’s largest global law firm, with renowned member firms across Asia, Dentons is uniquely qualified to provide both broad regional insight and specific domestic analysis of the specific requirements for each of the listed countries.

Malaysia

Our Senior Partner Salwah Abdul Shukor, who heads our Corporate practice and was recently ranked as a “Hall of Fame” Corporate and M&A lawyer by The Legal 500, has authored the Malaysian section of this guide.

Covering a wide range of topics such as the distinction between an exempt private company, private company and public company, the legal status of such companies, the registration requirements for each, the formalities that need to be observed, the relevant taxation information for companies incorporated in Malaysia and other material commentary, we aimed to provide targeted guidance to any persons considering setting up a company in Malaysia.

Zain & Co. considers the guide to Setting up a Legal Entity in Asia an excellent example of how international collaboration can allow the making of comparative analyses, with the aim of assisting clients in navigating the increasingly global commercial landscape. We are very proud to have contributed to this guide and will continue to seek practical and innovative solutions to enhance knowledge sharing across the legal profession.

Zain and Co. shall continue working seamlessly with Dentons’ global offices to provide tailored, specific advice to clients across the world.

The guide to Setting up a Legal Entity in Asia is available here.

Acknowledgments: Zain & Co. wishes to thank our senior partner, Salwah Abdul Shukor, for sharing her insights, and our pupil-in-chambers, Cindy Lee Sze Wern, for her assistance in preparing this summary.